United States deports Brazilian immigrant to Equatorial Guinea

The United States deported a 57-year-old Brazilian immigrant, Pietro Graza de Lima, to Equatorial Guinea in late August. Lima, who resided in Florida, was sent to the West African nation alongside immigrants from Cuba and Cameroon as part of a policy to establish deportation contracts with third-party nations.

The deportation occurred after a local judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order to prevent his expulsion. On August 20, Lima was placed on a flight destined for Liberia, but he and five other immigrants refused to disembark. Consequently, they were redirected to Equatorial Guinea.

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it was only notified of the deportation on August 25 through local authorities. The Brazilian ambassador in Equatorial Guinea has since met with local consular officials, who reported that Lima is in good health and staying in a government-designated hotel in Malabo. Reports from family members of other deportees suggest that immigrants are being held in hotels, such as the Hotel Bamy, and are restricted from moving freely or using mobile phones.

Data from the Third Country Deportation Match project indicates that the U.S. has conducted at least six deportation flights to Equatorial Guinea since last year, involving at least 53 immigrants of various nationalities.